The shifters took off in what looked like family groups, and Allegra paced impatiently, waiting for their turn to leave the meeting point. Adrenaline rushed through her as she finally sprang into motion, the wind whipping through her fur. She could hear the other shifters’ yips and muted howls, the felines’ grunts, their joy and freedom infectious.
Esther and Dylan ran at her sides up the muddy farm track and into the tree-covered hills. Allegra couldn’t help but steal glances at Dylan. His sleek black fur shimmered in the moonlight, and she admired his power and grace. She noticed him eyeing her too, causing anticipation to ripple through her.
They ran for what felt like hours, weaving in and out of trees and leaping over streams. Exhilaration filled Allegra. It was fantastic to be in the present for a change instead of stressing about the future.
Finally, they completed the circuit and arrived back at the old hay shed. Allegra’s sides rose and fell rapidly, her breaths coming in pants when she stood back and shifted to her human form.
She claimed her clothes and hurriedly dressed before turning to Esther and Dylan. “Thanks so much for including me. I run as often as possible at home but usually on my own. This run was fun, and it’s so nice seeing entire families—even children—joining with the rest of the adults.”
Dylan winked at Allegra, admiration in his hazel gaze. “You were amazing out there,” he said, his voice filled with genuine respect.
Allegra felt a warm glow of pride at his words. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”
“Stop flirting in front of me,” Esther said, and Allegra thought she was holding back a smile while trying to sound grumpy and disapproving. “I’m starving. Let’s get something to eat. At least that might distract me from all your come-hither looks.”
They wandered to the back of the shed, where a bulky man and his two teenage assistants were grilling outside.
“Allegra, this is Saber Mitchell, the leader of the Feline Council,” Dylan said.
Dylan’s hand on the small of her back left Allegra breathless, yet this was the worst time for romance. Her heart gave a physical wrench as her mind forced her to make the only decision possible. Whatever relationship she found with Dylan would end when she left Middlemarch.
“Saber, I’d like to introduce you to Princess Allegra Wolfehart,” he said, his tone low and pitched to reach only Saber.
Saber’s green eyes widened, but he waited for Dylan to add more.
“Allegra rules a kingdom in Europe. She has had problems and wondered if she could pick your brain. I told her you might offer advice or know someone she could turn to for help.”
Saber offered his hand for her to shake. “Come and eat with my family. This isn’t the best place for a discussion, but we might manage some privacy. I presume you want to keep the conversation between us?”
Allegra clasped his fingers, impressed by his friendly smile and the subtle power and confidence that emanated from the leopard shifter. The wolves on the council gave her verbal pats on the head and shoved aside her objections or opinions about their decisions. This man held her gaze and treated her as an equal—heady stuff, given her treatment by her fellow wolves at home.
“Thank you. I’d enjoy that very much. I’m here with Esther. We attended boarding school together in Europe and haven’t seen each other for almost a year.”
“Dylan and Esther are welcome to sit with us. I give you fair warning. Our table will be noisy since my mate Emily is bringing our twin daughters.” He gazed upward as if seeking help from the heavens. “My daughters make enough noise for everyone to presume Emily and I have six children.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive, although I have little experience with children,” she said.
“Sometimes I wonder what Emily and I were thinking when we had children,” Saber muttered.
Dylan laughed. “I’ll tell Emily.”
“I’ll deny everything.” Saber’s expression morphed to severe. “My kids are still loveable hellions.”
Allegra was about to apologize for Dylan when she spotted the flash of humor in Saber. She barked out a laugh and slapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
Saber chuckled. “That’s Emily over there. I’ll help her unload the supplies if you grab a table and some meat.”
As the night progressed, Allegra mulled over her conversation with Saber. She absentmindedly twirled a piece of hair around her finger as she pondered her next move.
Dylan had gone to grab more food, leaving her alone at the picnic table. She attempted to soothe her agitated thoughts. She couldn’t shake the sense there was more to her family’s assassination than what met the eye. Her mind drifted over the last month and her actions, then came to an abrupt full stop.
Wow! The runes. Her brother had ordered her to hide them, but why had he been so insistent? She pictured the flat box he’d given her in her mind’s eye. Papers. There had been papers at the bottom beneath the runes. Pierre had been vehement that she kept the box safe and didn’t discuss it with anyone. Yeah, she’d check out the runes as soon as she returned home.
Allegra experienced a pang of regret. She should’ve asked more, but history and things concerning Val-des-Loups hadn’t stirred her interest then. Now, she had questions and no one to ask them of—at least, no one she could trust. The council likely hid away anything of importance in the chateau, but perhaps they’d missed something. She made a mental note to search through her belongings the next chance she got.
After they finished eating, Dylan suggested they head home. Allegra couldn’t help but experience a newfound determination as they walked back to their vehicle. She intended to investigate her family’s assassination, no matter what it took, and most of all, she wanted to effect change to improve the lives of Val-des-Loups’ citizens.
Esther had disappeared to spend time with another group, and Allegra and Dylan stopped to speak with her.
